Eintracht’s European adventure continues into 2024 | OneFootball

The Eagles will battle it out with PAOK for first place in UEFA Europa Conference League Group G after a wondergoal from Farès Chaibi clinched a 1-0 win in Helsinki.

Chaibi broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion on the half-hour mark, beating HJK goalkeeper Niki Mäenpää with a fabulous strike into the top corner of the net. The home side went closest to a goal in the second half, but Eintracht held on to secure a top-two finish in their section.

Toppmöller reverts to back four

Dino Toppmöller made four changes to the Eintracht side that defeated Union Berlin on Saturday, two of which were enforced. With Robin Koch and Tuta both unavailable due to injury, the Eagles boss opted to field a back four featuring Niels Nkounkou, Hrvoje Smolcic and Aurélio Buta alongside regular centre-back Willian Pacho. Mario Götze was also restored to the team, with Philipp Max and Ansgar Knauff named on the bench.

Chaibi opens European account in style

Eintracht registered no fewer than ten attempts in the opening 25 minutes of the contest in Helsinki but were unable to find an opener. Ellyes Skhiri went closest to a breakthrough when he struck the post from Chaibi’s corner, with neither Pacho nor Hugo Larsson able to turn home the rebound. Götze sent Buta racing through on goal not long afterwards, but the Portuguese was denied by Mäenpää.

Chaibi’s opener was worth the wait, however. After collecting the ball on the left flank, the Algerian cut inside onto his right foot before curling a sumptuous effort into the top far corner for his first European goal in Frankfurt colours. The 20-year-old sent Omar Marmoush racing clear with six minutes of the half remaining, but the in-form forward was stopped in his tracks by an offside flag.

Top-two finish secured

Chaibi was denied by Mäenpää within minutes of the restart, but the home side almost restored parity when Santeri Hostikka’s long-range effort was deflected into the path of Topi Keskinen, who shot straight at the onrushing Kevin Trapp. Miro Tenho did manage to beat the Eintracht goalkeeper midway through the second period, but the referee spotted an infringement inside the Eagles’ area and the goal was chalked off.

Roope Riski and Anthony Olusanya both went close to salvaging a point for HJK in added time, while Paxten Aaronson almost doubled the visitors’ lead at the other end. Chaibi’s effort proved the difference, however, as the Eagles moved to within a point of Group G leaders PAOK.

SGE line-up

Trapp – Buta, Pacho, Smolcic, Nkounkou (Baum 89’) – Skhiri – Dina Ebimbe (Knauff 89’), Götze (Aaronson 78’), Larsson, Chaibi (Hauge 78’) – Marmoush (Nacho 70’)

Goals 0-1 Chaibi (31’)